"We are the only country in history that ever deliberately changed its ethnic makeup, and history has few examples of 'diversity' creating a stable society." - Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

A Detroit police sergeant has been arraigned on several charges that included criminal sexual conduct and misconduct in office

Wayne County authorities accuse 39-year-old Roosevelt Tidwell of forcing couples to engage in sex acts while he watched after confronting them at a park.

Tidwell has been charged in two cases. But Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said other instances may have taken place.

A 21-year-old Detroit woman told investigators that she and a male friend were driving through Chandler Park early on Feb. 7 when a Detroit police officer pulled them over.

The officer took their identification and got in the back seat of her car, then told the male friend to perform a sex act on the woman, according to court records. He threatened them with a $500 ticket if they didn't, according to court records.

The woman said the officer also fondled her breast and forced her to fondle him. The officer then told her to get out of the car and demanded her cell phone number.

Worthy said Tidwell later called the woman several times. The woman secretly taped at least one call and gave the tape to investigators.

According to the prosecutor's office, two couples went to the police on April 14 after the alleged incident on Detroit's east side, according to Detroit TV station WDIV.

The two women and two men said they were inside a parked Ford Explorer drinking beer at 3:50 a.m. when a white Detroit police SUV pulled up behind them.

According to the account given by the two women, after the sergeant threatened to arrest the couples for being in the park after 10 p.m., he told them he wouldn't arrest them if they performed oral sex on the two men while he watched.

One couple was forced to have intercourse, according to court records.

The victims said that the officer shone his flashlight on them and that they saw him masturbating. When a second patrol car approached, they said, the officer told them to stop and "be cool" before waving the other patrol car away.

Assistant Prosecutor James Heath said internal affairs has received more complaints about Tidwell and he believes there are more victims.

"The warrants that were issued came as a result of an investigation by the Detroit Police Department, after which the department presented information to the prosecutor that there's probable cause to believe that the crimes allegedly did occur," Assistant Detroit Police Chief Robert Dunlap said.

Tidwell is being held at the Wayne County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. A preliminary hearing has been set for May 7.

Tidwell joined the department in 1995. The Detroit Police Board of Police Commissioners decided on Thursday to suspend Tidwell without pay. His lawyer declined comment.

Defense lawyer Fred Walker, arguing for a low bail amount, told Lockhart that Tidwell has been married 18 years and spent 22 years in the military and 12 years with the police department.

Tidwell was given a $500,000 bond on each case that he is facing.

His charges included criminal sexual conduct in the first and second degree, extortion, gross indecency and misconduct in office.

Tidwell is due back in court next month for a preliminary examination.